Narain Karthikeyan
Discussion
So you say if you had the money (and the ability) to be able to drive around in an F1 car around the world in illustrious company, you wouldn't?
Yeah, he was average back when he had a chance in a midfield runner. He seems average now, one of the by-products of having a s
t car I suppose?
Yeah, he was average back when he had a chance in a midfield runner. He seems average now, one of the by-products of having a s
t car I suppose? coppice said:
He isn't going to win a GP but having watched him race in F3 etc he is a competent driver- and face it , even the backmarkers in F1 are on a different planet to most of us keyboard warriors.
That. If he was in a half decent car he would probably be turning in half decent times; it's not like the old days where people who really couldn't drive at all would end up in F1.coppice said:
He isn't going to win a GP but having watched him race in F3 etc he is a competent driver- and face it , even the backmarkers in F1 are on a different planet to most of us keyboard warriors.
But he's not better than the 4 or 5 drivers who've all got much more talent than him that've had to look for drives in other categories recently. I'm not suggesting that a car at the back of the grid would have been good enough for someone like Barrichello, but someone like Sutil deserves a drive more than Karthikeyan - despite his off track antics.But this is what happens when teams who can't really afford to be in F1 are given entries.
Scuffers said:
The real question is how did he get an F1 Super-licence?
(after all the talk from Spankie about making it harder)
TBH I don't think getting the license is all that difficult, Kimi managed it (originally) with something like 20 formula renault races under his belt. If you don't qualify by having done enough national/international racing I think there is some sort of appeal basis where they look at a driver on a case by case basis.(after all the talk from Spankie about making it harder)
Of course, wherever a subjective decision is to be made, people can be influenced (shall we say). On a completely different note, imagine Bernie wanted to see a full grid and a team has a potential paying driver.. a quiet word in the right places...
I agree there are better drivers who deserve a place in F1 over Narain, but you wouldn't really wish an HRT on them..
His car is horrendous. But I think he's pretty average for an F1 driver too....
As mentioned before his spacial awareness seems to be a bit hit and miss.
However, he's obviously an outstanding driver to be where he is. The fact he can actually drive an F1 car at all and not instantly crash surely proves that.
As mentioned before his spacial awareness seems to be a bit hit and miss.
However, he's obviously an outstanding driver to be where he is. The fact he can actually drive an F1 car at all and not instantly crash surely proves that.
I think it is too easy to dismiss the drivers at the back of the grid.
My eyes were opened by the interview with Pedro de la Rosa ahead of the Spanish GP.
Driving an HRT, he also has the experience of driving much better cars - he was a McLaren test driver remember and also drove for Sauber, so he knows a good car from a bad one.
He explained how for large parts of the circuit his HRT would be going sideways with oversteer / under steer and a general lack of grip everywhere. Where other cars would grip and go, the HRT would slide and generally try and crash wherever it could.
You need big cahunas to drive a bad car fast.
My eyes were opened by the interview with Pedro de la Rosa ahead of the Spanish GP.
Driving an HRT, he also has the experience of driving much better cars - he was a McLaren test driver remember and also drove for Sauber, so he knows a good car from a bad one.
He explained how for large parts of the circuit his HRT would be going sideways with oversteer / under steer and a general lack of grip everywhere. Where other cars would grip and go, the HRT would slide and generally try and crash wherever it could.
You need big cahunas to drive a bad car fast.
He ain't bad. He isn't a topliner, but he is certainly not a Lavaggi type of makeweight.
In the Jordan in 2005, and compared to his teammates at HRT (including Senna and De La Rosa) he has usually been at a simiar level. He is very good in the wet, and is a sensible racer that usually stays out of trouble.
De La Rosa and Narain are not the two drivers HRT would choose if they were a frontrunning team, but they need experienced drivers who can get them into the money-paying Top Ten in the Constructors championship. Two steady experienced drivers are more likely to do that by being there at the end of a freak race, rather than a pair of fresh-out-of-GP2 drivers who may go a couple of tenths quicker, but their need to prove themselves creates mistakes.
In the Jordan in 2005, and compared to his teammates at HRT (including Senna and De La Rosa) he has usually been at a simiar level. He is very good in the wet, and is a sensible racer that usually stays out of trouble.
De La Rosa and Narain are not the two drivers HRT would choose if they were a frontrunning team, but they need experienced drivers who can get them into the money-paying Top Ten in the Constructors championship. Two steady experienced drivers are more likely to do that by being there at the end of a freak race, rather than a pair of fresh-out-of-GP2 drivers who may go a couple of tenths quicker, but their need to prove themselves creates mistakes.
Redlake27 said:
compared to his teammates at HRT (including Senna and De La Rosa) he has usually been at a simiar level.
I really don't agree.Firstly I dont believe he's ever driven with Senna.
He has consistently been off the pace of DLR in qualifying this season.... and Pedro is hardly famed for strong one lap pace.
But for the Tata money he brings, he would be nowhere near F1.
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